The House Republican leadership standoff ended early Saturday morning with Kevin McCarthy winning the speaker's gavel on a historic 15th vote.
It was the longest such election since 1859.
The drama stretched into a fourth day Friday with three more failed votes to decide on a speaker after 11 others over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday -- the last one ending in a heated one-vote loss at the hands of holdout Matt Gaetz.
McCarthy had been stymied by a small group of hardliners demanding concessions to reshape how the House is run and legislation it prioritizes.
Here's how the story is developing. All times Eastern.
Jan 05, 2023, 7:54 PM EST
McCarthy loses 11th round of voting
McCarthy on Thursday night lost the 11th round of voting for House speaker, with little proven progress despite rumors of a coming agreement with his critics.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. 12 Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted for former President Donald Trump, and Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted "present."
Given that no person clinched an outright majority of votes, a speaker was not elected.
Jan 05, 2023, 8:25 PM EST
McCarthy critics insist impasse is 'healthy'
Several critics of McCarthy are insisting that their opposition is sparking worthwhile debate on the floor.
"I think it's incredibly healthy, actually, for the American people to see that we're on the floor," said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who has sought to block McCarthy's path to the speakership and nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., to hold the gavel.
Several more junior lawmakers lamented the lack of debate on legislation on the House floor and said the conversations over the speakership marked a drastic uptick in the amount of back-and-forth in the chamber.
"We have had more discussion and debate over the last three days than I have participated in on this floor for the last two years," said Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who also nominated Donalds. "And it's healthy. It absolutely promotes the collegiality that everyone is striving to obtain."
Jan 05, 2023, 6:14 PM EST
McCarthy loses 10th round of voting
In a repeat of the previous nine rounds since Tuesday, McCarthy on Thursday lost the 10th round of voting, extending his streak of defeats as his party failed to choose a speaker.
McCarthy won 200 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York won 212. Thirteen Republicans voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a protest candidate against McCarthy, and seven more voted for Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., who is backing McCarthy himself despite this.
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., again voted "present."
These tallies were essentially unchanged from every other round of voting.
It's unclear if Republicans will try to adjourn after the vote is tallied, though talks between McCarthy and his critics are expected to continue.
Jan 05, 2023, 5:42 PM EST
Movement possible between McCarthy, critics -- but real obstacles remain
With the speaker vote already at 10 historic rounds and counting, there are some early signs of movement toward a potential deal on a rules package between McCarthy and some of his detractors currently blocking him from the gavel.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a top McCarthy ally, said off the House floor to “stay tuned” and that the public should “see some movement in the next 24 hours or so” toward a potential deal regarding a rules package. That has been a sticking point for many of the McCarthy holdouts who want rules that would shrink the overall power of the speaker -- and, in this view, increase the influence of other members and change the priorities of the GOP.
Fitzpatrick added, however, that, “We're gonna be missing some numbers for medical issues and whatnot” on Friday.
That is another complicated issue facing McCarthy that may push the speaker vote to next week, given at least four members voting for McCarthy have to leave town for medical issues and family matters, according to sources.
Meanwhile, some of the most vocal McCarthy opponents have gone silent when asked for updates on progress -- often a sign on Capitol Hill that a deal could be in the works.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a current no on McCarthy who has been in deep conversations with him and his team, has been mostly mum in the building, only saying that they are trying to work things out.
A view of the House chamber as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Jan. 5, 2023.
